Brassiere

ABSTRACT

A brassiere wherein left and right bust cups are fashioned from a single layer of soft, resilient material. The upper bust edge of each of the bust cups includes a reinforcement band of the same material as the bust cups. The upper edge of the reinforcement band is secured to the upper edge of the bust cups with elasticized thread thereby providing an accomodating, comfortable garment. The lower edge of the band is secured a larger-than-normal distance from the upper edge of each of the bust cups, thereby forming a reinforcement band which distributes upper-bust edge pressure over a greater-than-normal area. Additionally, the reinforcement band is comparatively flat and relatively undetectable when worn under garments which would reveal a normal reinforcement band on a conventional brassiere.

United States Patent Radomski Dec. 18, 1973 1 1 BRASSIERE Att0rneyMortonAmster et al.

[75] Inventor: Alfreda Radomski, Trumbull, Conn.

[73] Assignee: Warnaco Inc., Bridgeport, Conn. [57] ABSTRACT Filed: Mar-20, 1972 A brassiere wherein left and right bust cups are fash- Appl.No.: 236,329

Primary Examiner-Werner H. Schroeder ioned from a single layer of soft,resilient material. The upper bust edge of each of the bust cupsincludes a reinforcement band of the same material as the bust cups. Theupper edge of the reinforcement band is secured to the upper edge of thebust cups with elasticized thread thereby providing an accomodating,comfortable garment. The lower edge of the band is secured alarger-than-normal distance from the upper edge of each of the bustcups, thereby forming a reinforcement band which distributes upper-bustedge pressure over a greater-than-normal area. Addition ally, thereinforcement band is comparatively flat and relatively undetectablewhen worn under garments which would reveal a normal reinforcement bandon a conventional brassiere.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BRASSIERE The present invention relatesgenerally to brassieres and, in particular, to the construction of thebust cups thereof.

Numerous brassieres have been available which attempt to afford comfortand support for the wearer. Many of these brassieres have attempted toprovide comfort by special construction of the side bands or specialcurvatures in the bottom edge thereof. Other brassieres have attemptedto provide a comfortable garment for changing bust configurations byproviding brassieres with special lower bust cup constructions. Stillother brassieres have attempted to improve conformance to the wearer bythe use of specialized elastic fabric inserts within the bust cups tomake the bust cups differentially responsive to tension.

Many brassieres form bust cups of two materials in an attempt atproviding comfort and support. Other brassieres use a soft fabric toform the bust cups with a rigid facing or braid being required to holdthe construction together. Invariably these latter brassieres present anunnatural appearance under a garment.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a brassiere whichsupplies a proper amount of support while providing a natural look whenworn under revealing garments.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide abrassiere wherein a single, soft fabric, such as one of the double warpknit tricots, may be used in the bust cups to form an undergarment whichmay be constructed to provide the proper support for the wearer.

l have found that a brassiere can be created wherein the bust cups areformed of a soft fabric which can be used to reinforce the cups whereneeded in a manner to provide a moderate degree of rigidity where thatis needed, without the brassiere appearing unnatural under clothing.

In accordance with a specific embodiment of the present invention, abrassiere includes right and left bust cups each having an upper bustedge. A reinforcement band, having upper and lower edges, is coextensivewith the upper bust edge of the bust cups and distributes upper bustedge pressure along the reinforcement band. Elasticized thread joins theupper edge of the reinforcement band to the upper bust edge and meansjoin the lower edge of the reinforcement band to the bust cups adistance from the upper bust edge.

The above description as well as further objects, features andadvantages of the present invention will be more fully understood byreference to the following detailed description of the presentlypreferred but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with thepresent invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of an illustrative form of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the inside of the invention shown inFIG. 1 with a reinforcement band shown removed from the upper edge of dleft bust cup; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the left bust cupof the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, taken substantially along theline 33 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, in accordance with oneillustrative embodiment demonstrating objects and features of thepresent invention, there is provided a brassiere, generally designatedby the reference numeral 10, which includes a right bust cup 12, a leftbust cup 14, a bottom panel 16, a side panel 18 and shoulder straps 20all constructed and connected as described hereinafter.

Both the right bust cup 12 and the left bust cup 14 are constructedsubstantially alike and though they are not identical, they aresymmetrical and only a detailed description of the construction of theleft bust cup will be presented.

The left bust cup 14 is formed of an upper left bust cup 22 and a lowerleft bust cup 24 both of which are produced from single layers of softfabric, such as double warp knit tricot. as is well known in the art,such tricot inherently possesses a fabric grain direction. The upper andlower left bust cups 22, 24 are stitched together and joined by amid-seam 28. The ends of the upper and lower bust cups 22, 24 whichprotrude into the interior of the brassiere 10 after the formation ofthe mid-seam 28 are sewn down with rows of stitches 30, 32 respectively.

A reinforcement band 34, formed of the same soft fabric as the left bustcup 14, is attached to the upper bust edge 36 thereof by elastomericstitching 38. The reinforcement band 34 is formed and arranged along theupper bust edge 36 in a manner that the resultant grain of the fabric ofwhich it is composed is aligned with the grain of the fabric of theupper left bust cup 22. The reinforcement band 34 is substantially widerthan is normal for reinforcement bands of conventional brassieres.

In consequence of its greater-than-normal width, the lower edge of thereinforcement band 34 is stitched to the upper left bust cup 22 bystitches 40 a substantiallygreater-than-normal distance from the upperbust edge 36. The formation of the reinforcement band 34 in this manner,of this material, results in a moderate degree of rigidity beingprovided to the upper bust edge 36 without the need for the normalfacing or braid. The wider-than-normal reinforcement band 34 whichresults, distributes the upper bust edge pressure over alarger-than-normal area with attendant comfort advantages. The upperbust edge thus formed results in a flat, natural-looking line when thebrassiere 10 is worn under thin, revealing garments. Also, the use ofthe elastomeric stitching 38 aids in pressure distribution along theupper bust edge 36 as it preserves the elasticity of the double warpknit tricot at that edge. At their line of symmetry 42, the inner edgesof the cups 12, 14 are sewn together with a tape 44 sewn over the seamthus formed to present a smooth and abrasion-free inner surface to thewearer.

The bottom bust panel 16 is made of elastic material and is fashionedfrom two symmetrical panels 45, 46 joined at their inner edges to eachother (which inner edges are also covered by the tape 44) and theirupper edges to the lower edges of the bust cups l2, 14. The side panel18, is joined to the outer edges of the bottom bust panel 16 as well asto the outer edges of the bust cups 12, 14. The bottom bust panel 18 isprovided with conventional end fastening means for adjustably fasteningthe brassiere 10 about the body of the wearer.

The end fastening means is covered by tape to present a smooth,abrasion-free inner surface to the wearer. The exposed seams which jointhe bottom bust panel 18 to the lower edge of the cups 12, 14 are covered with tape 62 and the lower edge of the bottom bust panel 18 iscovered with tape 64, also for abrasion prevention.

The shoulder straps 20, which may be adjustable, are attached to thecrests 66 of the bust cups 12, 14 and are also attached to the sidepanels 18 at the rear of the brassiere in a conventional manner.

Thus, the objects of the present invention have been fulfilled in that asingle layer of a relatively soft fabric has been used to fabricate asupporting garment which provides a moderate degree of rigidity in theupper bust area of the garment where it is required. The use of theelasticized thread 38 to attach the upper edge of the reinforcing band34 to the upper bust edge 36 of the cups 12, 14 has resulted in themaintenance of the desired degree of elasticity in that upper edge whilethe relatively large width of the reinforcing band 34 distributespressure which developes at the upper bust edge of the brassiere overthe broad area of the reinforcement band.

The garment which results from an application of the principles of theinstant invention provides improved fit for the non-symmetrical figurewhich a substantial number of women enjoy. Further, a garment whichembodies the principles of the present invention provides an improvedfit for the wearer whose bust becomes fuller at certain times.

As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the inventionmay be used in other specific forms without departing from its spirit oressential characteristics. The present embodiment is, therefore, to beconsidered as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of theinvention being indicated by the claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalence of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A brassiere comprising right and left bust cups of fabric having agrain, each bust cup having an upper bust edge, a reinforcement band offabric having a grain, said reinforcement band having upper and loweredges, said reinforcement band being coextensive with said upper bustedge for distributing upper bust edge pressure along said reinforcementband, said grain of said reinforcement band fabric being substantiallyaligned with respect to said grain of said bust cup fabric, elasticizedthread joining said upper edge of said reinforcement band to said upperbust edge and means joining said lower edge of said reinforcement bandto said bust cups a distance from said upper bust edge.

2. A brassiere according to claim 1 wherein said right and left bustcups and said reinforcement band are each formed of a single layer offabric whereby said upper bust edge is relatively flat and includes onlytwo layers of fabric, the respective grains of said two layers beingsubstantially aligned.

3. A brassiere according to claim 2 wherein said bust cup fabric andsaid reinforcement band fabric are double warp knit tricot or the like.

4. A brassiere comprising right and left bust cups of fabric having agrain, each bust cup having an upper bust edge along the upper edge andat least part of the outer edge thereof, a wider-than-normalreinforcement band of fabric having a grain, said reinforcement bandhaving upper and lower edges, said grain of said reinforcement bandbeing substantially aligned with said grain of said bust cup fabric,said reinforcement band being coextensive with said upper bust edge fordistributing upper bust pressure along said reinforcement band andstrengthening and supporting said upper bust edge, elastic stitchingjoining said upper edge of said reinforcement band to said upper bustedge and means joining said lower edge of said reinforcement band tosaid right and left bust cups at a larger-than-normal distance from saidupper bust edge.

5. A brassiere according to claim 4 wherein said right and left bustcups and said reinforcement band are each formed of a single layer offabric whereby said upper bust edge is flat and includes only two layersof substantially aligned fabric.

6. A brassiere according to claim 5 wherein said bust out fabric andsaid reinforcement band fabric are double warp knit tricot or the like.

7 A brassiere comprising right and left bust cups being fabricated offabric having a grain, and including an upper bust edge along the upperedge and at least part of the outer edge thereof, a wider-than-normalreinforcement band fabricated of fabric having a grain, and includingupper and lower edges, said reinforcement band being constructed andarranged with the grain thereof substantially aligned with the grain ofsaid bust cups and coextensive with said upper bust edge fordistributing upper bust edge pressure along said reinforcement band andstrengthening and supporting said upper bust edge, elastic stitchingjoining said upper edge of said reinforcement band to said upper bustedge and means joining said lower edge of said reinforcement band tosaid right and left bust cups at a larger-than-normal distance from saidupper bust edge.

1. A brassiere comprising right and left bust cups of fabric having agrain, each bust cup having an upper bust edge, a reinforcement band offabric having a grain, said reinforcement band having upper and loweredges, said reinforcement band being coextensive with said upper bustedge for distributing upper bust edge pressure along said reinforcementband, said grain of said reinforcement band fabric being substantiallyaligned with respect to said grain of said bust cup fabric, elasticizedthread joining said upper edge of said reinforcement band to said upperbust edge and means joining said lower edge of said reinforcement bandto said bust cups a distance from said upper bust edge.
 2. A brassiereaccording to claim 1 wherein said right and left bust cups and saidreinforcement band are each formed of a single layer of fabric wherebysaid upper bust edge is relatively flat and includes only two layers offabric, the respective grains of said two layers being substantiallyaligned.
 3. A brassiere according to claim 2 wherein said bust cupfabric and said reinforcement band fabric are double warp knit tricot orthe like.
 4. A brassiere comprising right and left bust cups of fabrichaving a grain, each bust cup having an upper bust edge along the upperedge and at least part of the outer edge thereof, a wider-than-normalreinforcement band of fabric having a grain, said reinforcement bandhaving upper and lower edges, said grain of said reinforcement bandbeing substantially aligned with said grain of said bust cup fabric,said reinforcement band being coextensive with said upper bust edge fordistributing upper bust pressure along said reinforcement band andstrengthening and supporting said upper bust edge, elastic stitchingjoining said upper edge of said reinforcement band to said upper bustedge and means joining said lower edge of said reinforcement band tosaid right and left bust cups at a larger-than-normal distance from saidupper bust edge.
 5. A brassiere according to claim 4 wherein said rightand left bust cups and said reinforcement band are each formed of asingle layer of fabric wheReby said upper bust edge is flat and includesonly two layers of substantially aligned fabric.
 6. A brassiereaccording to claim 5 wherein said bust cut fabric and said reinforcementband fabric are double warp knit tricot or the like. 7 A brassierecomprising right and left bust cups being fabricated of fabric having agrain, and including an upper bust edge along the upper edge and atleast part of the outer edge thereof, a wider-than-normal reinforcementband fabricated of fabric having a grain, and including upper and loweredges, said reinforcement band being constructed and arranged with thegrain thereof substantially aligned with the grain of said bust cups andcoextensive with said upper bust edge for distributing upper bust edgepressure along said reinforcement band and strengthening and supportingsaid upper bust edge, elastic stitching joining said upper edge of saidreinforcement band to said upper bust edge and means joining said loweredge of said reinforcement band to said right and left bust cups at alarger-than-normal distance from said upper bust edge.